Panthers Lose Kulikov to Injury for Rest of Season

Veteran defenseman's broken finger adds to Panthers' injury woes this season.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:26am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey player's body broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, teal, and gray, conveying the fragmented nature of the Panthers' injury-plagued season.The Panthers' injury woes this season have fractured their defensive depth, forcing the team to adapt and overcome as they fight for playoff positioning.NYC Today

Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NHL season after suffering a broken finger in Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens. This is the latest injury setback for Kulikov, who had just returned to the lineup in March after missing five months with a shoulder injury.

Why it matters

The Panthers have been plagued by injuries all season, and Kulikov's latest setback is another blow to a team fighting for playoff positioning. The loss of a veteran defenseman like Kulikov could impact the team's performance down the stretch.

The details

Kulikov broke his finger in the Panthers' 4-3 shootout loss to the Canadiens on Tuesday. He had already been playing with a broken nose, and joins teammates Evan Rodrigues and Aaron Ekblad on the list of Panthers players sidelined by finger injuries this season. Head coach Paul Maurice said Kulikov will be out for the remainder of the regular season.

  • Kulikov suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2 against the Flyers earlier this season, forcing him to miss five months.
  • Kulikov returned to the Panthers' lineup in March after recovering from the shoulder surgery.
  • On Tuesday, Kulikov broke a finger in the game against the Canadiens.

The players

Dmitry Kulikov

A veteran defenseman for the Florida Panthers who has struggled with injuries this season, including a shoulder injury and now a broken finger.

Paul Maurice

The head coach of the Florida Panthers, who announced that Kulikov will be out for the rest of the season due to the broken finger injury.

Evan Rodrigues

A Panthers player who has also been sidelined by a finger injury this season.

Aaron Ekblad

A Panthers player who has also been sidelined by a finger injury this season.

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What they’re saying

“He's going to be out.”

— Paul Maurice, Head Coach, Florida Panthers

“That was the longest I have been out during the regular season, and it was tough, mentally. You come in every day to do the work, but you're really not with the team. You're really not part of it all. It was a long process. But now that I am back, I am enjoying every second of it.”

— Dmitry Kulikov

What’s next

The Panthers have two games left on their final road trip of the season and will wrap things up with home games on April 10 against the New York Rangers and on April 15 against the Detroit Red Wings.

The takeaway

The Panthers' injury woes this season have been a major challenge, and the loss of veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for the remainder of the year is another setback as the team fights for playoff positioning. The team's depth and resilience will be tested as they try to overcome these injury issues down the stretch.